October

Crazy times for me!  I do love being busy and I love traveling but this may even be a bit much for me. A recap and a preview...

September  26 - Drive 431 miles to Portland

• Fun visit with our good friends Martha and Larry.
• Our traditional fall lunch at Skamania Lodge
• And traditional burgers at Burgerville
• Uneventful visit with my cancer doctor - no news is definitely good news!
• A chance to spend time with Scott
• And the Downton Abbey Movie - It is magical!

September 29 - Drive 431 miles back to Eagle, Idaho

September 30 - Finish getting ready for my trip to Kenya

• Stuff 4 bags to the brim with books, sanitary kits, and other supplies plus a few clothes
• Organize all my 'to-do' in Kenya Lists and supply inventory list
• Bake George a birthday cake and also 4 loaves of bread; put a roast in the crockpot.  Matt and George are thrilled!

October 1 - Happy Birthday George! - Drive 353 miles to Salt Lake City

• Check everyone on the team's bags to be sure they have maximized their weight limit
• Add more books if possible
• Spend the night with my friend Carolyn

October 2-3 Fly 9374 Miles from Salt Lake to Mombasa Kenya

• First to Amsterdam - then Nairobi -then finally Mombasa
• Hopefully sleep some 
• Read and watch movies!

October 4 - 19  Be an ambassador for Kenya Keys

• Visit schools 
• Pass out almost 300 books
• Give several hundred sanitary kits from Days for Girls to the most needy young women you can imagine.  Without these supplies, they have to stay home from school during their periods.
• Participate in a conference put on by the Kenya Keys Kenya staff for the International Day of the Girl Child- they are expecting almost 500 girls!  Can't wait to see this unfold!
• Take 1000's of photographs - probably closer to 3000!
• Enjoy a two day safari
• Help the team to be safe and happy

October 19-20 - Fly 9374 Miles back to Salt Lake - This time through Paris

October 20 - 23 - Rest and Recuperate at Tammy's house in Provo

• Laundry
• Get over jet lag
• Write trip reports
• Visit with family

October 24  - Drive  279 miles from Provo to Zion National Park

October 25-27 - Enjoy being with all George's siblings and spouses 

• Hiking
• Eating
• Visiting
• Hopefully a 'bucket list' hike to Angel's Landing

October 27 - Drive 279 miles back to Provo

October 28 - Drive 353 miles home to Eagle

Sounds kind of crazy but I am excited too!

Isabella's First Primary Program

For years, I've watched my friends go to their grandchildren's Primary Programs.  This year it was finally my turn.  Primary is our church's program for children ages 3 - 11.  They meet together to sing and learn the gospel.  Primary music is simply wonderful.  I remember telling the children in our Ward in Spain that 'Everything you need to know about the gospel, you learn in primary songs.' It is true.

I Am  a Child of God

I'm trying to Be Like Jesus

Search, Ponder and Pray

I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ

I Feel my Savior's Love

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

I Will Follow God's Plan for Me

He Sent His Son

Jesus Once Was a Little Child

Jesus Has Risen

When He Comes Again

I Love to See the Temple

Families Can be Together Forever

Scripture Power Keeps me Safe from Sin

Seek the Lord Early 

Follow the Prophet

Keep the Commandments

Little Isabella did great! 

Isabella was hesitant to walk up to the front until her Daddy walked up with her.  She stayed sitting with the other children until the program was over.  She sang some of the songs but really shone on two of them.  The chorister had made yellow circles with face cut outs for the littlest children to hold around their faces when they sang, "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam".  They were very enthusiastic and jumped in the air on the 2nd syllable of 'SunBEAM'.  So cute!  Their last song was, "Scripture Power" and on the chorus of "Scripture Power keeps me safe from sin.  Scripture Power is the power to win" the older children who had their scriptures held them up in the air.  Isabella wasn't happy just to hold her hand in the air.  She found a hymn book and lifted it proudly on each 'Scripture Power".   We also enjoyed her interpretative dancing to some of the songs!  And smiled when occasionally she seemed intent on helping the chorister as she waved her arm to lead music.

I am so happy she has parents who take her to church each week.  I love them!

Grandma and Grandpa are so happy that they were able to be there and look forward to many more years of Primary Programs! 

Room For One More!

More joy for the Reynolds family started with a call from social services to ask if they would foster another new born baby boy!  Only 1 answer to that question!  A very big YES!  I was so lucky to be able to go with them to the hospital to enjoy a few moments with this bundle of joy. I love seeing the look on Mary's face as she held him for the first time.

Even though we don't know if he will be a part of our family permanently, we know that we will just love him to pieces.  If he goes back to his birth mother, we have given him the best possible start in life.  The goal is always reunification with birth family.  We'll just pray for the best outcome for everyone.

We can't show his face on-line, so I have blurred it out.  Mary looks happy huh?

Talk about busy!  These two little boys are 1 year and 1 week apart.  When George was almost 3, his mother had her 3rd baby.  Karen and John are 1 year, 3 days and 35 minutes apart in age and George's mother survived.  I think Mary will too.  I wish I could have stayed longer to help her but I'm gearing up for leading a team to Kenya.  Luckily they have wonderful support from their church family and from Mark's mother.

 This is how she rolls these days!  And she is still rolling to story time at the library!  Lucky for her the community library is just down the street from her house.

When I asked Mary how Jackson was doing with the new little guy she said that he was alternately clingy and naughty.  He has figured out that when Mom is busy with the baby, he can get into all kinds of things!  Sounds like he is on the verge of turning into a toddler!

It's All About Jackson!

I looked back over the photos I took of my visit to Harper's Ferry and realized that there is not a single photo that doesn't include Jackson!   I guess that is pretty normal for 'Grandma' photography,
And he is quite photogenic!

Going for a walk 

Spending a few moments with Grandpa  

'Driving the car' - His Mom loved to do this too!

Enjoying the park!  I was amazed that he can climb UP the slide. 

Story time and bubbles at the community library 

Bedtime stories 

Photo moment with Grandma and Grandpa 

With Mommy 

And just a few from our photo shoot.  This chair was Mark's when he was a little boy. 

Jackson is wearing his white clothes from the temple sealing ceremony. This chair came from my mother's house but I have no idea where she got it.  

Yes it is true - Happiness is being a Grandma!

Philly Sightseeing!

The temple was the most important part of our weekend in Philadelphia but we did find time to do some sightseeing as well.

We visited the Independence Seaport Museum. The best part was exploring several navy ships, including a submarine.  I can't even imagine what it must have been like to live in this extremely small ship with a couple of hundred others.  I don't have claustrophobia but I think I would develop it.  Jackson didn't seem to mind at all! I've been looking at my Daddy's navy records and learning about the ships upon which he served.  That made this even more interesting.  He served on several battleships and a couple of carriers but never a submarine.

Mary, her sister-in-law Amanda, and I walked down to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  I couldn't resist running up the 72 'Rocky' steps. 

I ran up twice first with Amanda and then with Mary!  I was definitely 'feeling stronger'! 

Jackson looks excited to visit Independence Square! 

The rest of us enjoyed seeing the room where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.

Independence Hall 

And of course, you can't miss seeing the liberty bell! 

Good photo of Mary and me but we blocked the bell!  Oh well! I don't know why we didn't move over to the side or why the photographer didn't remind us to move. 

Just before we headed back to Harper's Ferry we went to Sonny's for traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwiches.  The place looked just like my stereotypical idea of a Philly restaurant. It reminded me of the famous "soup nazi' episode of Seinfeld.  Not the attitude of the workers (thank goodness) but just the way it looked and the big city feel.

The sandwich didn't disappoint!

It was a fun day playing tourist in Philadelphia!!!

Extraordinary!

After my last post about 'normal' this one covers a week that was anything but normal - It was extraordinary!

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe that families are forever.  When a couple is married in one of our temples, the vows don't end with 'til death do us part'.  They are sealed  together in marriage for 'time and all eternity'.  Any children born to that union are automatically a part of their eternal family.

Mary and Mark were married on December 20, 2000 in the Boise Temple.

Last year a darling baby boy came into their home through foster care. In July he legally became their son.  Now they could take him to the temple so he could become eternally their son in a simple ceremony we call a sealing.

 The closest temple to Mary and Mark is the Washington DC Temple but unfortunately it is closed for renovations.  The Philadelphia Temple is about 3 hours from their home so the 'sealing' was held there.  The temple in downtown Philly has the classic architecture of the city and period furniture that is reminiscent of 1776.  There is even a painting of the founding fathers in the entry way.

Mary made these cute invitations and sent them to their close friends and family.

Here's little Jackson waiting inside the temple.  Normally you can't take photos in the temple but since this was only in the entryway, a worker gave me permission. There are no photos of the actual ceremony. 

I was so touched at all the friends and family that traveled to support Mary, Mark and Jackson. 

It brought a tear to my eyes to see all the love that this sweet family has from friends in their Ward (church congregation) and from Mark's family. About 35 people came to be with them for this momentous occasion.  And remember it is a 3 hour drive from Harper's Ferry to Philadelphia. 

One of Mark's sisters flew in from Dallas, another sister and brother-in-law from Tucson, and another sister-in-law drove 6 hours one way from Buffalo, New York.  Plus a cousin came from Baltimore and an aunt and uncle from southern Pennsylvania.  And of course, Grandma Reynolds from Harper's Ferry. 

George and I were thrilled beyond words to celebrate our new little grandson!

I felt so much love also from my wonderful photographer friends.  One of the young women from our Eagle Ward now lives in Philadelphia.  I asked her if she would come and take photos for us and she agreed.  Another friend also has a daughter who lives there and since she was visiting her daughter at the time, they also came to help take photos!   Babies and husbands in tow! It was like the paparazzi!  So much fun to feel the love and support!

Families can be together forever!

Jackson Sarow Reynolds

Normal

The last month since my birthday has just been NORMAL - not particularly exciting but not bad either.  My friend Linda says that sometimes in her prayers she is just thankful for NORMAL!  I agree.  Life is good even when it is just normal!

So here are a few of the normal things that have kept me busy during the month of August:

I've been going through boxes of photos and memorabilia from my mother's house.  My goal is to label and organize all these treasures so that when we are gone, the kids won't wonder who all these people are!

Here I am with my cousins June and Joy.  I couldn't say "Js" so they were Lune and Loy to me!

I also found some handwritten recipes from my Grandma Boyle.  I love her very artistic handwriting and the fact that the recipes were written on scraps of paper and even envelopes.  I kept one for myself that happened to have my two favorites of her recipes written on the same page.  Chicken Salad and Pineapple Ice Box Cake.  You know the recipe is old when it is has the phrase "Ice Box"! Someday I'll frame it.  The rest I sent to my Boyle cousins.

                                

I also found this telegram that my Grandma sent to my parents after my cousin Martha Jane Depriest was born.    I was happy to send this to Janie.  It's a great early 70th birthday for her!

                                  

My mother was a Lonoke High School Basketball player! This must have been in 1938. Moma is on left end of the middle row.  Her sister Clarice is holding the ball.  Clarice is the mother of little Martha Jane, whose birth was announced in the telegram.

                                  

Our friends from Portland, Nancy and Chuck Harrington, spent the night with us on their way from their cabin in Minnesota back home.  It was fun to visit with them and anticipate our next trip together.  We've been to 28 countries together on 6 continents and will add to that count in March 2020.

George and Matt started high school soccer.  Matt coaches at Centennial High School and George is a referee at games all over the valley.

George and I went to a very interesting life sized replica of the Tabernacle of Moses.  Even though it was a very hot day, we learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed our walk through ancient history.

                                                  

                                        

To be honest, I can not look at the Ark of the Covenant without thinking of Indiana Jones and the Nazis! 

I am amazed at how quickly traditions develop on our Sunday night dinners with Monica, John and Isabella.  We all sit in the same chairs.  Isabella and I go and get the ice cream out of the freezer and she makes sure we have all the condiments we are supposed to have - whipped cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and sprinkles.  And we have to squirt some cream directly into her mouth!  

After dessert we always go for a walk and she loves to run with me.  I have to smile at her weekly announcement that "two little girls are running".  Don't know what makes me happiest - that she calls me a girl or calls me little or that I can run! 

We always stop at this rock so that she can pose for pictures. 

And we end our evening at the Seven Oaks school playground where we play hide and seek and also enjoy the playground equipment.  

I recently read an article about making memories with grandchildren that said in part, " "I'm struck by how deeply he knows me and how he's developed a set of things he does with me that he remembers. If I'm willing to follow his lead it demonstrates to him that I'm there for him and that our relationship is something he can count on.  It's a way to build a secure attachment."  I surely hope that is true!

Johnny and Monica went to an Saturday evening church meeting and Bella stayed with us.  So fun!  A trip to Chick-fil-a and then the park before going home to read lots of stories.  I love that she loves for me to read to her.  

 She also recently learned to ride a trike!  

 Monica tried her hand at making homemade jam!  It was a big success and we get to enjoy the results!  Goodbye low carb diet! 

 I've been doing a lot of walking in the foothills to build up my endurance for a long hike at Zion next month.  The Boise foothills are dry and brown and about as different from my walks in Portland as anything could be.  Still beautiful in its own way.  Today I had this little buddy cross my path.  Good thing I'm not scared of snakes!

So let's hear it for NORMAL!  September is going to be anything but normal.  With a trip to Philadelphia, getting ready to lead a team of volunteers on a trip to Kenya, a trip to Portland for my doctor appointment and then finally flying off to Kenya with loaded suitcases, it is going to be hectic but oh so fun!